I am sorry but You are wrong.
It is the Gospel of Christ wherein we are saved according to the context of the passage. See 1 cor 9:12,18
The verses chapter 9:23-17 say what they say Elevenhour. There is no way around it my friend other than to say that our God inspired Paul to write poorly. Because the sentence structure and context dictate that he is saying that we can reach a point where we are not partaking of the Gospel of Christ wherein we are saved. And he compares it to THE Prize, the ultimate incorruptible crown. We can deny it but it does not change it.
Paul says,
1Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly ( not aimlessly; not as one who has no fixed goal) so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Paul says, "I therefore so run". HOW SO? Not as uncertainly ( not aimlessly;not as one who has no fixed goal) so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But as one that is striving for mastery that he obtain the prize, the Gospel, the INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN.
1Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (REPROBATE, REJECTED).
So in closing GOD through Paul describes this not running AIMLESSLY BEATING THE AIR, as one who is striving for mastery, being temperate in all thing, keeping his body, and bringing it into subjection. THEN HE STATES WHY he is doing it. He says, "lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (REPROBATE, REJECTED)."
A castaway, rejected, a reprobate. Not to partake of the Gospel, the PRIZE, THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN with us.
Our Lord and savior does not stop there though HE CONTINUES WITH THE Same CONTEXT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. He starts the NEXT CHAPTER WITH THE WORD "MOREOVER". SO let's take a look shall we? And as we look keep in mind what happen to those whom were overthrown in the wilderness. That tempted Christ. Idolaters, murmurers, fornicators, lusting after evil things not bring the body under subjection, a castaway Tempting Christ.
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1Cor 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Cor 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Cor 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Cor 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Cor 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
But there is hope.
1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape (Christ in you), that ye may be able to bear it.
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